Methods of analysis and interpretation

Within the data analysis phase, it was felt that it was important to build as accurate a picture of the policy implementation as possible (Becker and Bryman, 2004). For this reason, all of the data were analysed alongside

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each other, with any differences between sources noted. In order to ensure that all data were fully considered, Miles and Hubermans’ (1994) data analysis strategy was utilised. This allowed easy comparison between different sources and groups of participants in order to enhance vailidity.

3.8.1 Searching for meaning and developing themes

Following a review of the available literature, the broad areas that were of interest were identified as:

• Becoming incapacitated

• Work Focused Interviews

• The Condition Management Programme

• Thoughts about the future - returning to work?

Alongside these experiences, key theoretical codes were used:

• The sick role

• Discretion

• The deserving/undeserving dichotomy regarding benefit claimants

• Claimant engagement with Pathways to Work

• Identity: occupational identity and claimants’ identities

All interviews were transcribed; half by the researcher, and the other half professionally. The first twenty interview transcripts were analysed and coded in a line by line manner, paying particular attention to the above themes. Following the initial analysis, an expanded set of codes were developed and all transcripts and fieldnotes were entered into Atlas ti6 for coding.

3.8.2 Miles and Huberman’s three stage strategy

The analysis strategy adopted within the research was that advocated by Miles and Huberman (1994). Their approach advocated seeing data analysis as three inter-related stages; data reduction, data display and conclusion drawing. The use of this approach ensured that all data were considered at the analysis stage.

Data reduction

Within this area, Miles and Huberman (1994) suggest that areas of importance should be identified within data. This allows only the most relevant information to be considered at later stages, although it is important to note that Miles and Huberman see the analysis process as cyclical, and that it may be necessary to return to this stage.

Accordingly, the use of Atlas ti6 to hold data enabled the researcher to return to data and update or amend codes as necessary.

Data display

The second stage of analysis as identified by Miles and Huberman (1994) is data display. Data should be displayed in such a way that it enables valid conclusions to be drawn, as it is not possible to ignore sections of coded data that do not fit a hypothesis. Whilst the approach shown within Miles and Huberman’s (1994) guide to analysis suggests the use of tables, it was found that this approach was most useful within small subsets of the data.

For example, ‘time ordered displays’ (p.111), simply tables that detail different areas in a chronological tale, were compiled for each of the IB claimants. This enabled a narrative to be created of their health and work histories, as well as their participation in Pathways to Work. Such narratives covered significant periods of the claimants’ lives and showed the impact of changing work and health situations upon their identities. In addition to being able to use such tables to construct narratives, by using one cell from the table, such as ‘employment history’ across all IB claimants, it was possible to compare differences and similarities within the group.

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A second way in which analysis utilised Miles and Huberman’s (1994) approach directly was the use of ‘case ordered displays’ (p. 190). The way in which such a strategy was adopted within the research was to create one table per CMP participant and fill in the following table based upon their

When working with larger sections of data, it was not possible to draw tables large enough to contain all of the data. For example, data from interviews with CMP staff relating to the perceived benefits of CMP participation accounted for over 20,000 words. Consequently, such large amounts of data, which could be easily printed out from Atlas ti., were further sub-coded by hand and then each new code (in this example, ‘managing their condition’) were identified and displayed together by creating lists with reference to each section of data, rather than neat tables. The principle of displaying similar data together, however, was retained.

Conclusion drawing

Miles and Huberman’s (1994) third stage is to use such data displays to be able to draw conclusions, or to acknowledge the limitations of the existing

data or coding, and hence the need to return to earlier stages of the research process. Having completed the table shown above for each CMP participant, comparison of the ten cases enabled a way of looking at the data in order to enhance validity. For example, it could be seen that there was a very high direct positive outcome of increased understanding of conditions, as seen through participants’ interviews. On the other hand, increased confidence was seen through both case files and interviews in both direct and indirect ways. Indirect increases in confidence included being able to achieve more during the day resulting in increased confidence to attempt activities that had not been undertaken for some time.

The final aim of Pathways to be explored was the aim of returning participants to work or training. Whilst it could be seen that some moves were being made in this direction, the use of such a strict analysis strategy showed the inability of CMP to bring about this change for most participants.

This issue will be discussed in greater detail in chapter six.

3.9 Ethical Issues